Chapter 2
Life is Shattered
It had been several days since, the Lycans had shown up, and Tenshi could feel the tension in the air. Everyone seemed to be more hostile, and when he'd asked his father about it he had said,
'Do not worry about politics yet my chigo(1). Everything will be all right,' and had left him alone in the chamber. But Tenshi knew something wasn't right even his sword instructor ignored his concern and said it shouldn't concern him.
Pushing these thoughts out of his head, Tenshi continued on with his regimen and his katas(2) and moved smoothly through the dojo.
Hours passed and the sun had just gone down. He was making his way back to the Royal House which was across the gardens when suddenly several things accord.
First he saw smoke; second he heard steel striking steel and then third was the cry of war. Quickly unsheathing his katana, Tenshi ran towards his home where his family was. When he arrived the scene before him was one of pure violence. Bodies were strewn everywhere, and most of them were the Royal guards, the Drums of war were beating still which meant everyone should know about this soon. But what scared him most was that in the middle of all the carnage stood his family. This father had on his armor and was bleeding terribly.
Next to him his sister was being supported by her Bo Staff, and their mother lay at their feet unmoving. Tenshi's heart stopped no, no it couldn't be happening. His father had always told him that war brought nothing but suffering and pain but this wasn't fair. Rushing quickly towards them, he saw recognition on his father's face, before a look of fear covered it. He was trying to say something but was too late, by the time Tenshi had turned around a large man with a war hammer was about to crush him.
Tenshi closed his eyes and waited for the inevitable only to hear steel on steel ring threw the silence. He looked up and saw his sister standing before him. With a smile on her face. However the the thing that game him the most notice was the spike of the hammer prodding from her chest
"Well, Tenshi-kun(3) better late than never ehh?" she joked. Her mouth full of blood as he dripped out. She quickly spun around and decapitated the source of her distress.
Tenshi just nodded and was about to head over to his father when suddenly his sister fell to the ground.
"I love you gaki, make sure you make me proud, and know that I will protect you in any way that I can." She whispered as the flame of life left her eyes and her body went cold.
Tenshi sat there and wept as he saw his oldest and only sister, die in front of him. A firm hand grabbed onto his shoulder, and he over into the glistening eyes of his father, who had lied down next to his mother.
"My sochi(4), this is why I always told you that war is not what people make it out to be. It is a thing of death and sorrow. And promise me that you will never start a war for personal gain," he croaked as more blood ran down his chin from his mouth.
"I promise oto-san(5) but stay with me the healers will be here shortly after that we can strike back and take care of this. Just don't leave me I beg you." He cried,
His father just looked at him and smiled,
"I love you Tenshi, make us proud and bring honor to our name…" he spoke as his body stopped moving, and the life that he was full of left him with his spirit.
"NO!!! OTO-SAN DON'T GO PLEASE!!" He screamed as tears flowed down his face. He continued to cry even as he sensed several people near him.
Suddenly several of the obvious attackers stepped out of the darkness. And rushed at him, fury filled his aching body and he flew towards them with his Katana drawn and posed at the ready. The first attacker was met with a swift strike to the chest and then a blade that met his neck and decapacitated him. Not even stopping to make sure that he was head Tenshi moved on to the next, this went on for several minutes before tired and exhausted, he fell down next to his father.
Just as he was about to start crying more presences showed up. Just as he was about to unsheathe his sword and strike them down, one of them spoke calmly to him.
"Peace Tenshi-dono(6) honorable son of the late Ching. We are friends and wish you no harm." He spoke softly. Tenshi looked up into the eyes of these so called friends and noticed the look of sorrow and pity in their eyes. They had glimmering armor or what he thought was, as it was drenched in blood. They had multiple weapons on them, and they were all huge and muscular easily 6 foot each, weighing at 250 or more. And they had come to help, He was about to tear up when another spoke up,
"They come. We must move his majesty if we wish to escape." The tall one nodded and moved back towards Tenshi.
"Tenshi-dono there is a cave about a mile away from here in the cliffs do you know of it?" the tall one asked. Tenshi nodded an affirmative, when they had been kids his father had beaten the area into memory of each of his children. And so the caves where not something new to him, nor was the one they were asking for.
"Good, we have set up wards that will keep you hidden from anyone that means you harm. What we need you to do is run and not stop not till you reach there, once there others will come to get you. Trust them they too will look like us." The tall one said.
"Okay now…RUN" and with that they surrounded him and they fled towards the caves. However the moment he reached the cave Tenshi noticed he was alone. He looked out the entrance to notice that they were running in a different direction. Leading their pursuers away from him, Tenshi felt a bit of emotion threatening his heart again as he returned to the back of the cave and curled in upon himself. He cried to himself and muffled his mouth with his cloak as the cried himself to sleep. Now waiting for someone to come and get him.
Sonya was awoken by the sounds of feet pounding on the ground outside her room. When she went to open the door she nearly ran into an Elite Guardian.
"Excuse me hime(7)," the soldier said as he joined the others and ran down the hallway.
I was about to ask what was going on when my maid came to the door.
"Hime, your father request your presence immediately their seems to have been a situation. At Ching's Palace." Her blood froze. But then that meant… no she couldn't dwell on the 'what if's' there was a battalion of light foot soldiers sent there.
But none the less she quickened her pace of dressing and with a few minutes stood next to her father and a bunch of food soldiers.
"My fellow Vampires tonight a great tragedy has befallen the great Japan, lycans have inhabited our once lovely country." A roar of disapproval rang throughout the entire chamber, but her Father raised his hand and quieted them. With a look of grief and sorrow he spoke the next few words.
"But the reason I have gathered you here tonight is not because of them, but more as of what they have done." He paused,
"Our great brother in arms Ching Wan has been attacked," roars and promises of death like Sonya had never heard before rose inside of the chamber. People were demanding that they launch a full scale attack and avenge them. When her Father raised his hand to silence them it took several seconds unlike before.
"I have come to you to say that we know not what has happened only that the runner that we received was battered and worse for wear when he brought these news. For too long we have let these Lycans room free within our world today we shall head to the palace and collect what we can. Then we will hide and call a meeting of all the great Vampire nations. Here at a summit, but first we must send a recovery team to safe anyone that might need our assistance. As of such you shall be led by my daughter Sonya, to the Palace where if you find any survivors you are to escort them here. If not Seal the Palace and kill all that stands in your way. What say you," He shouted, his speech was followed by a loud,
"LONG LIVE WAN, LONG LIVE PEACE," an ancient oath that hadn't been spoken for nearly 15 years. And it sent a shiver down everyone's spine.
Sonya's only hope was that there were several survivors. And with that they took off into the night, her on a horse with her protectors and the rest running. Soon she prayed all of this would be over.
Aurther's Dictionary
1) Chigo in this instance means Child
2) Katas are groups of pattern exercises often found with swords
3) Kun the suffix means friend or in a freindly manner
4) Sochi means son
5) Oto-san or Otokooya means father but oto-san is for a child
6) dono not commonly used is a form of higher respect than Sama
7) Hime means princess or girl of noble brith.
Also remember to Review or check out my Homepage where polls and the forums are locate. Ja ni.